Has Charlemagne Done Anything Wrong?

or...

b) an Eldritch abomination

I believe that to be the case as well,, though knowing Enkidu's history with being the more "gift giving" person between the two of them...I think he'd know that Gil wouldn't want something too extravagant (wood carvings have to be their favourites though,, considering Enkidu built an entire house for Gilgamesh in the epic)

Gilgamesh is an entire different case though,, he thinks Enkidu would indefinitely prefer something luxurious over something as simple as hand carved gifts (maybe not from wood, but clay)

never forget the time that Humbaba insulted Enkidu by calling him "spawn of fish"

Thessalonike's legend is very different from her real, historical "figure" yet nonetheless this mythos exists and adds a "theatrical flair" to the little information that we know of her person

Being a Pretender, in my eyes, would have to do with the fact that we hypothetically have two "beings" to represent Thessalonike. If we go by the mythos, then we have this bittersweet figure of "naivety" and "innocence", a young princess that's long lost her heart to her grief. She returns as a material creature of vengeance (a Gorgon), yet as one that hasn't truly forgotten who she was in the past nor her deep, profound love for her family. Her mythos makes you wish you could help her in any way possible because of the aching feeling of hopelessness from both ends,, Thessalonike herself and the sailors she torments in her sorrow and perhaps the readers themselves, who'd be in the shoes of the unfortunate sailors.

At the same time...we have the real woman herself. Thessalonike, the princess and later queen of Macedon, mother and wife, whom also has a story that ends in tragedy despite the reason not directly tying to the ending of her legend with Alexander. Her story still ends with grief regarding her family, specifically her children and her husband, though there come different accounts concerning the kind of figure that she was at the time. To some, she was fearsome and courageous while to others she was weak, controlling, a horrible mother and an inexperienced figure that never got to fully grasp the power she held in her hands during her reign

The best figure I could compare Thessalonike to in this case would be Oberon, and knowing the devs I'd love to see them toy around with the two representatives of her person. I have this idea in mind that we could potentially summon Thessalonike during her reign as the queen of Macedon and then later have her reveal her true nature as the fearsome Gorgon of her legend. A Pretender would be fitting as you can argue that she's already accepted the way of the circumstances as they are yet at the same time refuse to believe it so. She'd be a character with an idealised "truth" and definitely hold a stubborn streak to her character. Stubborn in the sense that she wouldn't want to firmly accept that indeed, her older brother's long gone and that even in history she never found true peace when all these events could be altered or done differently.

To put my words into perspective...think back to Oberon knowing the ending to his story and that he comes from a fictional dreamland that's not the reality of things. Still, he doesn't want to accept his situation as is and wants to believe that he'll find his peace and his wife Titania out there someday. I picture Thessalonike in a similar situation if we want to be bitter regarding her character. By the time that she'd come to Chaldea she'd know at the very least that all that's happened in the past did indeed happen but refuse to let her story end as is.

Now...my idea for Thessalonike being a Berserker more or so had to do with her legend ending with her turning into a raging Gorgon that torments the poor sailors of the Aegean Sea...so not much thought was given here. Berserkers aren't really as mindless as most media makes them out to be-- though I'd argue the reason I saw Berserker as a potential class for Thessalonike was that she pretty much uttered one sentence for all her mythos and at the bare minimum understood the difference between affirmative and negative responses. That and her ever changing, violent temper and destructive nature

I have two figures in mind that I'd love to see in FGO and nobody else fits the criteria better than King Philip II of Macedon and Princess (and later Queen) Thessalonike of Macedon

These two are tied to Iskandar of course, with King Philip II being the father to both Iskandar and Thessalonike (which makes Thessalonike and our beloved redhead king half-siblings). King Philip II built the foundations of Macedon in preparation for his son to inherit the throne and a brilliant mind for his time, so you'd want to see him adapted in FGO.

I'd argue that Thessalonike is a historical figure that the devs would definitely have more fun playing around with because the Greek folkore surrounding her is brilliant...I mean, being the princess of Macedon and holding a very deep and loving bond with your older brother, who happens to be none other than Alexander the Great himself? Not to mention, her story begins with the tale her older brother (Alexander) returning to Macedon to gift her a flask of immortal water, which he managed to retrieve after his difficult quest for the Fountain of Immortality (as the tale goes).

It's argued between two different versions that Alexander knew the contents of the flask, and yet still offered and washed Thessalonike's hair with it (as a result making her immortal). That, or in the alternative version where he didn't know the contents. There's not much difference between these two versions other than the fact that for some reason, either he or Thessalonike use that very same water to water a wild onion plant (devious sibling behaviour)

Unfortunately as most Greek folklore tales end with tragedy, upon hearing of Alexander's death Thessalonike was so struck with misery and despair that she unironically jumped off a cliff to end her life...which didn't work because unbeknownst to her, she was now immortal.

Thessalonike turned from a human princess to an immortal mermaid that often wandered through the sea and asked human sailors this very important question:

"Is king Alexander alive?"

Which would be "Ζει ο βασιλεύς Αλέξανδρος;" in the original Greek text. I find it super interesting that Thessalonike's question isn't really a riddle but more or so a reassurance to herself that indeed, her older brother is still alive and well

The only way you'd get on her good side would be to answer:

"He lives and reigns and conquers the world"

and as always, in the original Greek text it would be: "Ζει και βασιλεύει, και τον κόσμο κυριεύει!"

Any other answer would transform her into a raging Gorgon that would sink you, your ship and your entire crew to the bottom of the ocean. It's the troupe of doomed siblings all over again and I just can't help but feel intense feelings with it!😭

It's UNIRONICALLY the fact that Thessalonike, even if you're practically forced to lie to her that Alexander is still alive, doesn't seem to question it afterwards. Her folklore doesn't say much outside of the information I've brought up here, but why would she not bother to check herself and see that her older brother is doing alright? Could it be that she's genuinely in denial of his death? That or maybe, considering her condition now as an immortal "mermaid" and "raging Gorgon", perhaps she feared that Alexander wouldn't see her as his sister anymore?

These two have such unique chemistry and this tale of theirs adds so much depth to Alexander and his bonds with his family. I mean,, if we go by the interpretation that he did indeed know the contents of the flask, why would he give it to Thessalonike? To protect her? I believe he did want to protect her in his own "big brother" way. I'm pretty sure everyone was expecting for Alexander to come back home after his conquest anyway, so maybe he was just preparing for the worst? That in the case that he did die, which he did, his family wouldn't have to suffer or let them harm themselves purely because of his absence.

It's so very interesting! King Philip II and his doomed children!! It feels like such a missed opportunity that Iskandar has no voicelines dedicated to his old man or his younger sister, perhaps even of the Fountain of Immortality. Any sort of mention to it or them would've been fantastic

I get the reasoning behind Gil wanting to somewhat blend between humans but the lack of golden accessories or any sort of rich embroidery to the fabric of his clothes icks me because it's SO un-Gil like. A loudmouth like himself with such esteemed poise and better yet a very clear importance to his self image from both his perspective and the public would not stoop this low to blend with mortals.

I mean you'd expect at least some form of expression to highlight his importance,, for instance golden rings to his fingers or a bracelet or two to his wrists, maybe his iconic and flashy earrings. That or his necklace. Not too much for it to be a resemblance or a direct callback to his warrior regalia as we know it, but enough to leave a good first impression

Maybe the translation is rough and not exactly it, but I'm curious as to what exactly Gilgamesh could be trying to interpret here:

"I lost freedom to speak with them the moment I took the throne".

As in...is he still in the process of grieving Enkidu to the point that he doesn't want to acknowledge that they've been summoned to Chaldea by this point in time? Or in the literal context that his kingship was, to some extent, a responsibility he had to properly take on after their death? Perhaps a metaphor in the context that Gilgamesh was young and bright with Enkidu but nonetheless careless, feisty and naïve? That, by growing into his maturity which would mean his kingship (evolving from Archer Gilgamesh to Caster Gilgamesh), he no longer has the time or position to be the way he had been previously?

Gilgamesh's actions in his youth are responsible for the final outcome which was Enkidu's death,, and knowing Gil's love for them,, he could be punishing himself by purposefully distancing himself away from them